Chris Mance II - Mental Skills Coach

A bad start can shake even the most seasoned athlete. When emotions run high and pressure mounts, the mind becomes the true battleground. To win on this battleground, athletes must be able to shift their mind to neutral. The late Trevor Moawad, who sadly lost his 2-year battle with cancer in 2021, was a renowned mental conditioning coach who introduced athletes to the power of neutral thinking. This mindset helps athletes focus on the next play instead of dwelling on successes or failures. Russell Wilson, a longtime student and friend of Moawad, shared yesterday how this philosophy was crucial during his debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 37-15 win over the New York Jets.

The Power of Neutral Thinking in Tough Situations

Trevor Moawad taught athletes to avoid the emotional extremes that often follow mistakes or successes. His philosophy of neutral thinking encourages staying centered in the moment and focusing on the task at hand. This approach keeps athletes like Russell Wilson calm under pressure, allowing them to perform at their best regardless of the situation.

In the ESPN article covering Wilson’s debut game with the Steelers, Wilson reflected on how Moawad’s guidance helped him navigate his bad start in the game. He said:

Wilson, of course, heard the boos early in the game, but he said afterward that his steady mentality helped him rebound from a rocky start that saw the Steelers go 0-of-3 on third down in the first quarter as underthrown passes bounced to the turf and others were haphazardly thrown away as the Jets’ pass rush closed in.

“I really believe in being neutral, not being too high, not being too low,” Wilson said, adding that he followed the advice of his late mental conditioning coach, Trevor Moawad: “Stay the course.”

Wilson likened his performance to a baseball player starting 0-for-2 at the plate but said he “felt like I was going to get hot.”

“And sure enough, we did,” Wilson said. “… You catch the wave, and once you find it, you don’t let go. And I think the biggest thing is just knowing who you are, knowing the belief you have in yourself and knowing that also, too, that was my first time back, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m starting to feel it again. Here we go.'”

Wilson’s commitment to neutral thinking allowed him to reset and focus on executing the next play, which helped him lead Pittsburgh to a decisive victory. Neutral thinking isn’t about suppressing emotions—it’s about managing how you respond to them. When an athlete remains neutral, they prevent mistakes from snowballing into frustration or distraction. Instead, they refocus and execute, which is key to making comebacks during challenging moments in a game.

Being Neutral is Better than Being Positive

Neutral thinking is a better approach to positive thinking. The problem with positive thinking is that sometimes you have to fake it to truly be positive. Your inner-self knows when you’re faking it and this can minimize the benefits of positive thinking. On the other hand, neutral thinking is more about being positive about the reality of the situation. It’s being a realist without letting negativity of what you can’t control impact the reality of what you can control.

When you use neutral thinking you focus on sticking with the facts. Facts that are not necessarily overly positive or negative, they just are. 

This approach allows athletes to stay in control of their mental game, regardless of setbacks or successes. By focusing on the immediate task, they maintain clarity and composure.

Wilson’s ability to stay focused during the Steelers’ 37-15 win demonstrated the power of neutral thinking. Despite early struggles, he didn’t let frustration take over. Instead, he quickly reset his mindset and concentrated on what he could control—the next play. This mental clarity, rooted in Moawad’s philosophy, enabled him to make key adjustments and keep his team competitive throughout the game.

Moawad’s philosophy goes beyond helping athletes regain focus. It teaches them to break free from negativity that can lead to self-doubt and poor decision-making. By staying neutral, athletes like Wilson maintain clarity during high-pressure situations, making it easier to bounce back and perform at their peak.

Neutral Thinking Works in Sports and Life

Ultimately, neutral thinking is more than just a tool for handling setbacks—it’s a strategy for long-term success. Russell Wilson’s career demonstrates that mental strength, not just physical talent, often determines who wins in critical moments. Trevor Moawad’s philosophy teaches athletes that a bad start is just that—a start. What happens next is what truly matters.

By staying present and neutral, athletes empower themselves to make better decisions, recover faster, and avoid emotional extremes that lead to mistakes. Whether facing a tough opponent, an unexpected career setback, or a personal challenge, neutral thinking can transform your mindset and fuel your ability to succeed.